No complaints from Pearson as Ryhope are held at rivals Red Star

Ryhope CW joint-manager Gary Pearson had ‘no complaints’ over his side’s draw at Division One rivals Seaham Red Star.

After a tight and nervy first-half, Red Star edged in front seven minutes into the second-half with a goal from Joe Hailes.

Their lead was to be shortlived, as Ryhope forward James Ellis fired home an equaliser for his side to ensure they claimed a share of the spoils.

He told The Echo: “I would like to have thought we could have beat them on Saturday.

“We had chances, and I think we had the better ones.

“After a bad result in midweek, you want to avoid successive defeats and we have managed to do that.

“It’s a derby game, and it was probably a fair result.”

Elsewhere in Division One on Saturday, West Auckland Town’s fixture at Northallerton Town was abandoned just after half-time, after hosts defender Lee Brockbank suffered a suspected broken leg.

Billingham Town ended their poor form as Harry Close got the only goal of their home fixture against Whickham to give his side a first win in six games.

Horden CW assistant manager Andy Colledge admitted his side had to win ugly as they secured all three points from their Division Two home game against Brandon United.

The hosts looked well on their way to a win when Ewan Simpson and new signing Olly Hotchkiss found the net in the opening 20 minutes.

However, Scott Johnson got the visitors back into the game just before the halfhour mark and they completed the comeback when Kai Hewitson equalised with just four minutes left on the clock.

However, there was late drama at Welfare Park as Simpson popped up with injury-time looming and grabbed his second goal of the day, to snatch the three points for his side.

“We started really well, went two up and credit to Brandon for sticking at it,” explained Colledge. “They are a lot better than where they are in the league.

“It was an even game and they got back into it with three minutes left.

“We got the three points, but we didn’t play well.

“Sometimes you have to play ugly and win.

“And if you do that, you can be in and around the top six, which is our target for the season.”